Ventilating construction for a chick box



March 31, 1964 P. KUNDIKOFF VENTILATING CONSTRUCTION FOR A CHICK BOX Filed Jan. 2, 1963 Mg 5 a a my a 0! "A 3 E" a Q w y w w.

I INVENTOR.

PETER KUNDIKOFF Z W ATTOPNEV.

United States Patent ()fifice 3,126,867 Patented Mar. 31, 1964 3,126,867 VENTILATWG CGNSTRUCTION FQR A CI-HCK 30X Peter Kundikoif, Rte. 4, Box 437, Escondido, Calif. Filed .Ian. 2, 1963, Ser. No. 249,tl7 6 Claims. (Cl. 11919) This invention relates to a ventilatible container employed to transport small animals or fowl and more particularly to an improved ventilating construction for such a ventilatible container used in the transport of live baby chicks.

Baby chicks are normally hatched in the hatchery somewhat remote from the area where the chick will be raised. The live baby chicks must be transported from the hatchery to the chicken rancher. While the baby chicks in this early state of life, a few days old, are not generally susceptible to disease, they are sensitive to rapid temperature variation. Such temperature variation may cause constipation in the chicks known as Pasting. When this develops, the droppings of the chicks are not properly discharged from the chick and they paste on the back of the chick, ultimately causing its death.

In order to properly care for the chicks in transit, it is necessary to preset the ventilation of the chick boxes, sometimes even change it in transit, depending upon the temperature variations between day and night, or between the hatchery and the delivery place. To this end, many different approaches have been used, including the provision of cork-like inserts to be placed in the ventilating holes of a chick box, for example, or to apply tape to cover up certain of the holes, or removal of the tapes to open up more holes, to enhance the ventilation. All of these have been cumbersome at best.

The present invention seeks to overcome the difficulties of the prior art with respect to the regulation of the ventilation, by providing an improved ventilating construction in the ventilatible container, which may be selectively placed in an open position or in a closed position, and re-used many times.

It is also desirable to use certain of the container construction, for instance, the top and the bottom of the construction, for feed trays for the chicks after their arrival at the chicken ranch. Therefore it is desirable at this time to close any ventilating ports or air vents, so that the chick feed may be retained within the confines of the box top or bottom.

The improved construction of the present invention includes formation of a regulatible ventilating construction in either a top or bottom closure, or any other angular member of the ventilatible container. At the point of angularity, or the crease between the one side and the other, a first score mark is presented by the member. A second score mark is formed and disposed in spacedapart relation to the first score mark, along one side of the member. Thereafter, a cut-out flap extending from the second score through an entire area extending along the other side of the angle is punched from the box, forming the cutout hinged both at the first score and at the second score. This cut-out or punched-out portion provides the fiap principally formed through one side and extending through the angular portion to the juncture score of the member.

Thereafter, the flap may be pressed by hand action, from the member, to provide an opening therethrough for ventilation. In the event that the user desires to close the flap, he need merely press the flap back through the opening formed by its cutout, and the flap with its dual hinging action at the first and second scores will then recess slightly within the box construction and abut against the inside part of the member. Thus the flap will be held against the inside part, by the action of the area between the juncture score and the terminal score of the construction. The flap will be firmly held against the box providing the closed condition of the closure.

It is an object of the present invention in addition to the aforestated objects and advantages, to provide a relatively simple improved ventilating construction for a ventilatible container which construction may be readily opened to provide ventilation and closed to provide substantially air-tight integrity against ventilation.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a simple construction whereby ventilation may be selectively adjusted to provide or not to provide ventilation, and further, to provide a closure when the ventilating aspect of that closure has ceased.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved ventilating construction which is simple of manufacture and trouble-free in operation.

Various other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following specification, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein the preferred embodiment is set forth for the purposes of illustration.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of a ventilatible container utilizing the improved ventilating construction;

FIGURE 2 is a view in which closure 12 of FIGURE 1 is shown as an inverted top view;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged partial view of one of the improved ventilating constructions or air-vent constructions shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 4, 5, and'6 are each views in section through an exemplary improved construction of the air vent showing in FIGURE 4, the air vent being open, in FIGURE 5, the use of an operators finger to press the air vent through the cut-out portion, and FIGURE 6, a closed air vent, having completed the cycle demonstrated in FIGURE 5.

Referring more particularly to FIGURE 1 for a description of the present invention, I have shown therein a chick box construction it}. A similar construction is further exemplified in my application for United States patent entitled An Improved Chick Box Construction, Serial Number 158,262, filed December 11, 1961, now Patent No. 3,108,569. Chick box construction 10 has a top closure 12 and bottom closure 14. In order'to simplify the discussion of the present invention, the reader, if he desires to examine further the exemplary container construction 1%, should advert to the above identified application wherein the basic container is fully described. The container 10 and is constituent parts may be con-- structed in part or all, of plastic, fiberboard, cardboard, or as herein exemplified, corrugated cardboard. Further, for the purposes of the present invention, let it suffice to state that the bottom closure 14 may be constructed similar to the top closure 12, with the openings shown therein, also being provided in bottom closure 14: if so desired.

Therefore, hereafter, for purposes of exemplification of the present invention, explanatory comments will be directed primarily to the construction of the top closure 12 and the ventilating construct-ions provided therefor.

Top closure 12 is provided with a pluralityof improved ventilating constructions or air-vent constructions 16,18, 20 and 22. Constructions 16 and 20 are shown in a closed position, and constructions '18 and 22 in an open position. In order to further describe the construction, FIGURE 2 showing :an inverted top closure 12, of FIGURE 1, shows the construction of the top closure 12 inverted and looking down into the closure 12, where we see flaps of air vent constructions 16 and 2.0 in a closed position, and flaps of air vent constructions 18 and 22 in an open position. It can clearly be seen, therefore, that by adjusting the open and closed position of the flaps, ventilation is controlled. Additionally, when the top closure 1-2 has 3 served its purpose in the container construction and is now ready for use as a feed tray, all flaps are closed and thus an integrally built feed tray is provided.

In order to further simplify the description of the ventilating construction, adverting to FIGURE 3, a singular cutout ilap 26 is shown in a closed position with respect to the angular top closure construction 12. The top closure 12 includes an angular member which presents a first side 30, angularly emanating from an area of angularity 32, and a second side 34 emanating at the area of angularity 32, and projecting away therefrom. The first side 30 is shown as the edges of the top closure 12, for example, and the second side 34 is shown as the base of the top closure 12. It is within the concept of this invention that the two could, of course, be reversed and the flap be caused to extend from and through the second side instead of the first side, if this may be desired.

A first score 36 is formed at the area 32 of angularity, which, as it is the juncture between first side 30 and second side 34, is designated as the juncture score 36. A second score 38 spaced apart from the first score formed on the second side 34. The cutout flap terminates at second score 38 and is thus also denominated a terminal score 38. The flap portion intermediate the first score 36 and second score 38 provides the spring or resilience to flap 40 in its movements. Thereafter, flap 40 is partially cut out from second side 34 and the rest from first side 30. The greater area of flap 40 is illustrated as being cut out from the first side 30, with the flap 40 extending through the juncture score 36 and terminating at the terminal score 38, in the base 34. In operation of the ventilating construction, the cutout flap '40 may then be pressed through the resuitant opening in the angular member or top closure 12, thus providing the ventilation port for air to pass therethrough. The cutout fiap 40 and its action is further illustrated in FIGURES 4 through 6 inclusive. As a result of the two spaced-apart scores, 36 and 38, which are exemplified as substantially parallel one to the other, a unique operating feature results. Flap 40 when it is first pressed outwardly to provide the opening 42 through the top closure 12, rotates primarily at its juncture score 36 fulcrum. When it is desired to close the opening 42, an operator, by utilizing, for example, his finger, may press against flap 40, inwardly of the container, causing it to go through the opening 42 as shown in FIGURE 5. When flap 40 is pressed beyond the opening 42, the fulcrum changes from juncture score 36 alone, and also includes the fulcrum of the terminal score 38. Terminal score 38 provides the flap with the second pivot or fulcrum. Thus flap 40 rises somewhat and is displaced upwardly within closure 12 and in abutting relation to the first side 30, closing the opening 42 and refusing to pass ventilation or feed therethrough.

The spaced-apart section between the juncture score 36 and terminal score 38 provides the essential spring or resilience to hold flap 40* against first side 30 until manually altered in its position; this section may be referred to as the resilient or springy portion.

The particular embodiment of the invention illustrated and described is illustrative only, and the invention includes such other modifications and equivalents as may readily appear to those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A ventilating construction for a ventilatable container comprising an angular member presenting a first side and a second side each emanating at an area of angularity and projecting away therefrom, a first score formed at and along the area of angularity, and a second score spaced apart from the first score and formed upon that second side, a cutout fiap formed through the angular member and extending from the first side through the area of angularity to the second score with a substantial portion of the flap lying in the first portion, said angular member presenting an opening therein formed by the cutout of the cutout flap for receiving transfer of the flap therethrough, whereby the flap may be extended to an open position of the opening and selectively transferred through the opening to a closed position of the opening.

2. A ventilating construction for a ventilatible container comprising an angular member presenting a first side and a second side, each emanating at an area of angularity and projecting away therefrom, a first score formed at and along the area of angular'ity, and a second score substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the first score and formed upon that second side, a cutout flap formed through the angular member and extending from the first side through the area of angularity to the second score with a substantial portion of the flap lying in the first portion, said angular member presenting an opening there-in formed by the cut-out of the cutout flap for receiving transfer of the flap therethrough, whereby the flap may be extended to an open position of the opening and selectively transferred through the opening to a closed position of the opening.

3. A ventilating construction for a ventilatable container comprising an angular member presenting a first side and a second side each emanating at an area of angullarity and projecting away therefrom, a first score formed at and along the area of angularity, and a second score substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the first score and formed upon that second side, a cutout flap formed through the angular member, and extending from the first side through the area of angularity to the second score with a substantial portion of the flap lying in the first portion, a resilient port-ion formed by that portion of the [Flap between the area of angularity and the second score, said angular member presenting an opening therein formed by the cut-out of the cutout flap for receiving transfer of the flap therethrough, whereby the flap may be extended to an open position of the opening and selectively transferred through the opening to a closed position of the opening, said resilient portion being adapted to hold the flap in the closed position.

4. An air vent construction for a chick box including top or bottom closure, comprising a closure having a base and a side joined at a juncture score, a terminal score spaced apart from the juncture score formed upon the base, a cutout flap principally formed through the side and extending a minor portion thereof through the juncture score terminating at the terminal score.

5. An air vent construction for a chick box including top or bottom closure, comprising a closure having a base and a side joined at a juncture score, a terminal score substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the juncture score formed upon the base, a cutout flap principally formed through the side and extending a minor portion thereof through the juncture score terminating at the terminal score.

6. An air vent construction for a chick box including top or bottom closure, comprising a closure having a base and a side joined at a juncture score, a terminal score parallel to and spaced apart from the juncture score formed upon the base, a cutout fiap principally formed through the side and extending a minor portion thereof through the juncture score terminating at the terminal score, adapted to cause selective opening and closing of an opening in the closure, and a resilient portion presented by the flap intermediate the juncture score and the terminal score adapted to cause the flap to be held in a closed position against the side.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,015,341 Gorsuch Sept. 24, 1935 2,333,244 Gordon Nov. 2, 1943 2,864,545 LRoyce Dec. 16, 1958 3,077,294 Barrez Feb. 12, 1963 

1. A VENTILATING CONSTRUCTION FOR A VENTILATABLE CONTAINER COMPRISING AN ANGULAR MEMBER PRESENTING A FIRST SIDE AND A SECOND SIDE EACH EMANATING AT AN AREA OF ANGULARITY AND PROJECTING AWAY THEREFROM, A FIRST SCORE FORMED AT AND ALONG THE AREA OF ANGULARITY, AND A SECOND SCORE SPACED APART FROM THE FIRST SCORE AND FORMED UPON THAT SECOND SIDE, A CUTOUT FLAP FORMED THROUGH THE ANGULAR MEMBER AND EXTENDING FROM THE FIRST SIDE THROUGH THE AREA OF ANGULARITY TO THE SECOND SCORE WITH A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE FLAP LYING IN THE FIRST PORTION, SAID ANGULAR MEMBER PRESENTING AN OPENING THEREIN FORMED BY THE CUTOUT OF THE CUTOUT FLAP FOR RECEIVING TRANSFER OF THE FLAP THERETHROUGH, WHEREBY THE FLAP MAY BE EXTENDED TO AN OPEN POSITION OF THE OPENING AND SELECTIVELY TRANSFERRED THROUGH THE OPENING TO A CLOSED POSITION OF THE OPENING. 